South Carolina State vs. Howard Prediction, CFB Week 10 Odds & Best Bets (11/5)

Fact checked at 6:41 AM ET, Nov 5, 2026

Odds as of 6:41 AM ET, Nov 5, 2026

South Carolina State (7-2, 2-0 MEAC) visits Howard (4-5, 1-1 MEAC) at 7:30 PM ET at Greene Stadium on ESPNU, with the Bulldogs favored by 15.5 and the total at 50.5. The big news is on Howard's side. Coach Ted White has confirmed that quarterback Ja'Shawn Scroggins is out for the season and running back Eden James is sidelined indefinitely. Graduate Isaiah Freeman is expected to start at quarterback, and Keely Watson is expected to start for SC State.

SC State's defense should decide this one. Howard's offense managed 114 yards without Scroggins and James in its last game, and the Bulldogs don't need a shootout to pull away. A comfortable SC State win in the low 40s or below is the game both picks need.

South Carolina State vs. Howard Predictions

• Pick #1: Under 50.5 (-110)
• Pick #2: South Carolina State -15.5 (-112)

PICK #1: Under 50.5 (-110)

Howard can't hold up its end of a 51-point game with this offense. In the 34-0 loss at North Carolina Central, the Bison had four first downs, went 2-of-15 on third down and threw for 44 yards. Freeman was 10-of-24 for 39 yards with two interceptions. Even with Scroggins, Howard scored 18.1 points per game, 109th of 124 FCS teams. Five of its six games against FCS opponents stayed under 50.5, and the exception was a 31-24 win over Alabama A&M in the opener.

Then there's the SC State defense. It allows 16.8 points per game, 9th in the FCS, and leads the country at 235.6 total yards allowed. Both numbers are helped by shutouts of two non-FCS teams, Savannah State and Virginia State. Against FCS opponents it has allowed 21.6 a game, but only 7 to Norfolk State and 10 to Morgan State in its two MEAC games. Morgan finished with 150 yards and minus-12 rushing.

The price implies a 52.4% chance. The risk is SC State's own scoreboard: four of its seven FCS games went over 50.5, including 65 points against The Citadel and 88 against Charleston Southern. Those teams could score, and Howard right now can't. With Howard stuck around a touchdown or a field goal, SC State would need something like 40 to push this over, and it has done that once in seven FCS games.

PICK #2: South Carolina State -15.5 (-112)

SC State beat Howard 42-12 last year and has won five of the last six meetings. Its most recent game was a 51-10 rout at Morgan State, where Watson threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns. Howard needed overtime to beat that same Morgan team 26-20.

A 16-point win is the ask. The Bulldogs average 32.1 points against FCS teams, and if Howard's offense looks anything like it did at North Carolina Central, a 28-10 kind of night covers this and still stays well under the total.

At -112 the implied chance is 52.8%. The honest knock is the cover record: SC State has won by more than 15.5 in only two of seven FCS games, and it squeezed past Furman 20-17 and beat Norfolk State by exactly 15. What's different tonight is the other sideline. Howard is down its starting quarterback and its leading rusher, and the one full game it played without both of them ended 34-0.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.